Mike Morse slugged his 27th home run of the season in Saturday night's loss to the Astros. Morse did his part, going 2-for-4 with a sixth-inning solo shot, but the Nationals got little production from the rest of their lineup. Danny Espinosa went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Ian Desmond went 0-for-5 and left three men on base.

Mike Morse suffered a sprained ankle while running the bases during Tuesday's game. He's in the lineup Wednesday, so obviously it's not a huge deal. It's something to file away, though. Morse sported an impressive .317/.373/.550 batting line going into Wednesday's game.

Mike Morse (elbow) is back in the Nationals' lineup Saturday. Morse didn't start Friday's game with swelling in his left elbow, something that's given him issues for over a week since he was hit by a pitch on August 11. He's hit .313 with a homer and three RBI in five games since then, though, so it doesn't appear to really be affecting him at the plate. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post dropped an eye-popping stat on Morse Saturday, revealed that the 29-year-old has slugged 27 points higher than anyone in baseball since taking over as the Nats' starting first baseman on May 22.

Mike Morse is out of Friday's lineup due to swelling in his left elbow. The Nationals don't think it is anything serious, but Morse is apparently still feeling the effects of being hit by a pitch last Thursday. Laynce Nix will start in his place at first base Friday night and bat cleanup against Roy Oswalt and the Phillies.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson said following Tuesday's game that he wants Mike Morse to get playing time in left field moving forward. Morse has exclusively played first base since mid-May, but will move back to left field in preparation for Adam LaRoche's return from shoulder surgery in 2012. "Ideally, when LaRoche comes back, we'll have LaRoche at first and probably have [Morse] in left field," said Johnson. "But we're definitely going to have him somewhere every day."

Michael Morse went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer in a 6-4 win over the Reds on Tuesday. He knocked in two runs and scored two more. Morse is 4-for-8 with three RBI since returning to action Saturday after sitting out Friday's game after taking a pitch on the left elbow. The breakout star is now batting .323/.372/.566 with 21 homers and 71 RBI.

Mike Morse returned to action on Saturday August 13.

Mike Morse (elbow) is back in the Nationals' lineup Saturday. As expected. Morse suffered a left elbow contusion when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday's game and sat out Friday, but it was only as a precautionary measure. He'll bring a .319/.369/.554 batting line to go along with 20 homers and 68 RBI into Saturday's contest with the Phillies.

Mike Morse (elbow) expects to return to the Nationals' starting lineup Saturday. Morse was held out of the lineup Friday after suffering a left elbow contusion when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday's game. He skipped batting practice Friday, but only for precautionary reasons.

Mike Morse (elbow) is available off the bench Friday against the Phillies. Morse suffered a left elbow contusion after being hit with a pitch during Thursday's game. He will wear a pad on his elbow and hopes to return to the starting lineup Saturday.